New Poll Shows “Dead Heat” in Race for Kansas Governor

Topeka – As we move into the final two months of campaigning ahead of the November general election, new polling indicates Senator Laura Kelly and Secretary of State Kris Kobach are in a “dead heat.” Senator Kelly was recently announced as the recommended candidate for governor by the Kansas NEA PAC which commissioned the poll conducted by Public Policy Polling.

The candidates for governor were tested twice in the poll, once where all candidates were only identified by name and party affiliations and again where respondents were read a positive platform message about Kelly, Kobach and Orman individually. The results of these two samples are indicated as follows:

“Two things should jump out at voters from this poll,” KNEA President Mark Farr said. “First, Greg Orman’s role in this election is that of a distant spoiler. Second, voter turnout by those who really care about public education in Kansas will determine who our next Governor is. In my mind, a vote for Greg Orman is a vote for Kris Kobach. If we take Kobach at his word, public schools will be starved of resources, the courts and constitution will be ignored and when public schools are shut down, our tax dollars will be gifted to private, for-profit schools.”

The poll also indicated while Kobach’s propensity to seek the media spotlight has earned him more recognition statewide than Kelly (87% to 60% respectively), a full 11% more voters who know Kobach view him unfavorably than favorably. Thirteen-percent (13%) more voters who know Orman view him unfavorably than favorably. By contrast, Laura Kelly enjoys a positive favorability rating. Of voters who know her, 14% more view her favorably than unfavorably.

“Laura Kelly and her running mate Lynn Rogers have proven themselves as advocates for students and for strong public schools time and again,” Farr said. “They have promised to work to restore respect for the educators who dedicate themselves to protect and to teach our students. When the election is over, we will either collapse backwards into a doubling-down on the policies Sam Brownback wrought on this state or we will continue to move forward with a champion of public education in Laura Kelly. This poll is a really a call to stand up, support our kids and our public schools and above all else, to vote.”

Public Policy Polling conducted this poll with results based upon responses from 877 likely Kansas general election voters. The telephone survey was completed between Friday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 26.